I will not be censored.

It absolutely breaks my heart to say this, but the New Beverly Cinema that have I loved and stood so ardently for – and that I believe so many of you out there love and stand up for – is gone.

The first time I walked into the New Beverly Cinema in October of 2001, I heard a little voice inside me say: “This is where you belong.”

It felt like home.

I loved that the theater was slightly shabby, that the prices were too cheap, the butter was still real, the films were still on film. I loved the kooky cast of characters working there, and the even kookier regulars who came to watch the films.

All you needed to be welcomed with open arms was a love of film.

Here was a place that was never about money or power, but solely about the love of cinema.

A quixotic throwback to a time when ideals meant something.

Run by a family, and casual to a fault, the New Bev seemed to me a time machine back to 1978 – when the theater opened – when revival cinemas were king.

I asked Sherman Torgan – then the owner – for a job that first day and every time I returned for five years. I knew I had to work there. I would wait as long as it took.

Eventually, he gave up one of his own shifts for me, and I started working at the Bev in May of 2006.

I was over the moon.

Shortly after I started, Sherman asked why he hadn’t hired me five years ago. He was astounded and amused by my youthful enthusiasm for the theater, which brimmed over in bucketfuls. He told me I breathed new life into the stagnant theater. Even stocking the candy counters made me happy – I was finally part of The New Beverly Cinema! The best movie theater in the world!

Over the past eight years, I felt I have given more of myself to the theater than I had to give. I have loved that place with all of me, and have told every soul I came in contact with about how absolutely fantastic it is. I have loved it more than any person should love a theater.

And now everything I have been fighting for with all of my heart all this time has just been taken away.

They’ve won.

I can’t fight anymore.

I am done.

But let’s back up a bit, shall we?

Mid July of this year, I was summoned to a meeting at Quentin Tarantino’s house and informed that as of October 1st, 2014, Quentin would be taking over ownership of the New Beverly Cinema, and that I – along with Brian Quinn, who has run our Grindhouse nights for years – was to be one of the co-managers of the 35mm-only-from-now-on-forever-and-ever-amen Bev.

You can imagine how I felt – personally hand-picked by Quentin Tarantino to run his movie theater in Hollywood! A dream come true!

And I was being promoted to a salaried manager position! I made slightly less than $14,000 in 2013, so the thought of making nearly four times that – with paid vacation and health benefits – was dizzying. Living paycheck to paycheck and being on food stamps at 35 years old is a sobering feeling – one I was ecstatic to say goodbye to.

I was, as far as I understood it, to be the public face of the theater – to conduct guest interviews, run the social media outlets and to be front and center in the box office – the first face that the customers would see.

I take my box office position very seriously. I feel that it is my job to welcome every single person who walks through that door, and make them feel like they are part of something unique. I get to welcome them to the coolest movie theater and because I genuinely love the place, this task is a delight.

I was so excited to tell everyone about all of the exciting upgrades the theater was going to get!

Instead, a social media muzzling was immediately ordered.

I was not allowed to instagram, twitter, facebook, blog, or in any other way talk publicly about what was happening with the New Beverly.

I am a very open person and love sharing my life online. It hurt to ignore the dozens of emails, phone calls and texts asking me what was happening with the theater.

If I ignored you, I’m sorry.

I was censored.

This social media muzzling eventually became a confidentiality agreement that I refused to sign which would forbid me to say anything at all, on any public forum, about my job, the New Beverly Cinema or Quentin Tarantino.

Ever.

Any violation of this agreement – and they would be constantly monitoring my social media outlets –was grounds for immediate dismissal.

Why would you want to silence your employees from saying good things about your business?

Because that is all I would ever say about the Bev.

This monitoring soon became physical as well – we were welcomed into work last week with cameras absolutely everywhere. Not only watching the box office and snack bar, where the money is, but the manager’s office and projection booth as well.

We weren’t being protected, we were being watched.

When I asked to know who was watching the monitors, I was ignored.

In the six weeks I worked with this new management “team”, which hypothetically included Julie McLean – Quentin’s personal assistant – Brian Quinn and projectionist Jeff Nowicki, I was left feeling completely vulnerable and isolated.

Although I was now a manager in title, I was never given any job parameters or instructions.

I was constantly left in the dark, my emails unanswered.

Emails about the status of our social media.

Emails about why showtimes aren’t easy to find online.

Emails about our inventory, about the theater, about my position.

Emails asking for help.

I was completely frozen out.

In fact Julie, my immediate superior, hasn’t answered an email of mine since October 3rd.

And yet, I was supposed to be managing a theater during all of this time.

This past Monday morning I was called to a last minute meeting by Julie McLean – the new general manager of the Bev – who informed me that, although I had only started my new position less than two weeks before, she had come to the conclusion that I was not manager material.

Effective immediately, I was to be demoted to snack bar, with no shifts guaranteed. In layman’s terms: I won’t fire you, because then I would have to pay unemployment, but I simply won’t schedule you – which forces resignation.

She assured me that any argument was useless. No, I was not allowed to state my side of the case, nor could I talk to Quentin. She had already assured him that this was the best move for the theater, and he had given his consent to allow her ultimate power in all decisions regarding the theater.

She wouldn’t listen to anything I had to say, and found all of my arguments “bordering on insubordination”.

My last gasp was pleading with her – couldn’t she see that there was a feeling, a soul to this place that she was only going to crush? Couldn’t she see that?

She told me I was making it about myself, like I made everything about myself.

My last words to her were:

“You’re going to turn this place into a fucking multiplex, and it’s a goddam drag.”

I think Quentin Tarantino is an incredibly talented filmmaker with his heart in the right place. He’s been my personal hero for several years – here’s a man who uses his celebrity in the best possible way – to insure 35mm will be around and to save a theater that both of us see as something extraordinary.

However, I think he has people working for him that aren’t serving his best interests.

He needs to wake up and see that these people are killing the very thing he is trying to keep alive.

For my dedication to the New Beverly, I am rewarded with no job, $47 in my bank account and a finished documentary film about a place that no longer exists.

Out of Print is a film I made about how important 35mm exhibition is and how special revival cinemas are – I illustrate this case with showing you ONE special cinema – The Bev.

I have been struggling to make this film since 2012, and am proud to say it is finally finished.

I was planning a big premiere at the New Beverly in January – on a 35mm print.

Obviously, that isn’t going to happen.

That’s why I have decided to let you all watch the documentary I made about the New Beverly Cinema – Out of Print – now.

Today.

For free.

I hope you will see first hand the enthusiasm I had for that place, and the passion I will always have for cinema. No matter what you think of the film, you can’t deny that my love for The New Beverly Cinema shines through.

And I hope it will encourage you to support that struggling mom and pop theater near you.

Crap. I was keeping my mind open with all the changes, hoping that it would turn out okay, that Tarantino would take care of the place, but this pretty much is the end. I didn’t go to the New Bev as often as I should’ve. I now regret that deeply.

Julia! I think it’s incredible and beautiful that all you’ve been doing for the last few years, your cintributions to the theatre, your enthusiasm, all comes from your love of FILM. And this won’t change that. You’ll still be doing great things, and you’re still YOU, right? I think we should try to see it at the theatre on 35. I DEMAND IT. WE ALL DO. You made the movie, put your everything into it, FOR ALL THE CINEMA AND NEW BEV LOVERS. AND WE want it projected for us one night. What can I do to help? – Jonny

This is just awful Julia, words cannot express how disappointed I am in this. Just an absolute punch to the gut. I’m sorry, endlessly sorry. I always looked forward to seeing you at the Bev and will cherish that our friendship started within those walls. My deepest condolences.

I had held out hope the rumblings that had permeated the atmosphere about the goings on at the New Beverly were untrue. I was wrong. A big hug to you Julie. Your film is wonderful. I bet you never imagined it would be an obituary. So sad…

Cameras at the snack bar? I dunno. I’ve been going to that theatre since the 80’s. I liked the dank feel of the place. A movie theatre of my youth. New Beverly use to run all kinds of genres in film. I took a buddy to see OLIVER! there a few years ago. Now it all seems to be one mans personal taste in movies. Why would anyone care if you talked about the movie theatre online? It’s a movie theatre. Not some covert operation. Sorry that happened. Having your hopes built up only to be underhandedly gotten rid of. It does sound like personality conflict and this woman was threatened by you for insecure reasons of her own.

Sounds like a lot of bitching on your part. It is theirs and they can do what they want with it. Old time feel and social media don’t mix anyway. You were not right for the job. Don’t pretend to think you are a victim here. Find a better job and get off food stamps and quit wasting time making videos. The real victim is the tax payers for supporting you while you goof off. Fucker.

You were extremely rude and “Power happy” to myself and friends over the years, so I cant say I am upset in any capacity. This is not spam, nor am I a troll or a hate monger – but YOU in fact are the sole reason why I stopped going to the New Beverly cinema. You ARE the girl at the entrance with the pink or otherwise frequently colored hair , correct? If you are not, I apologize – but if you ARE . . . . . Good days ahead for the Bev.

I am so very sorry that this is how it ended. Your passion for film is infectious and can only be a benifit anywhere you go. I will send all kinds of good juju your way and support Out of Print in any way I can. Much love.

Taken at face value, it’s a terrible story. I’m sorry that you’ve lost a job you clearly loved. However, I do know there are two sides to every story, and you may simply not have been the right fit for what Quentin is trying to do. Change is hard, and people like yourself, who admit to totally loving the place “as is”, are usually most reluctant to accept that change. I don’t think you would have been happy there in the long run, so perhaps this is the best thing going forward. There are other “New Beverly Cinemas” out there that would probably love your help.

I hate hearing this as I only discovered the New Bev about a year ago (fairly new to LA), and always found you delightful and began reading your blog and twitter as a result. I finally met you just a couple weeks ago at the Pulp Fiction screening and we talked about how you were hoping to show Out of Print there. I will say the new manager gives me the creeps and I can only suspect she wants to be the only “face of the theatre”. What she doesn’t get is you’ve already cultivated many many friends of the theatre who will only be saddened by this oddball way of handling things. Seriously hope you find something better to move on to, and as excited as I was about Tarantino running a theatre, I’m having serious thoughts about never setting foot in that place again. — Michael… @Merrritttt

Very sorry to hear about your departure under these circumstances. Is Out of Print available in HD? Even though you’re offering it for free, I’ll gladly pay to watch it, especially if can help you out financially.

The corporate giant has reared his ugly head, again. This makes me upset to read. Screw QT’s assistant. She is a targeted pawn in a much larger financial corporate agenda – and I’m sure she will live a life in riddled with self misery — more so than you could ever make for her. I’d say, take the good with you and leave the bad behind.

Your story has moved me to for the first time comment on the web. Unfortunately I have lived through similar scenarios twice while working here in LA. You work for a beautiful little place simply because you love it, but this beautiful little place is in danger of going under because of it’s littleness and an audience’s changing relationship to media. You rejoice when somebody who has the money to keep it alive takes over. Then they hire others to physically run the place. People you are told who know how to run a business yet have know idea what the f they are doing and in the process steamroll over all the people who care for the place and made it what it was. Wonderful passionate people are fired and promises are broken. I have quit twice heartbroken that a place I used to love is no longer what it was. The movie palace still stands, but now is a different place than what I fell in love with years ago. I am glad that the New Bev will still exist and show only prints but it’s not going to be the same without you! I hope those mentioned in your story can now know that.

Obviously the people chosen by QT to run the theatre have little (if any) knowledge of how to do so. The LAST thing they should want to do is alienate the public face(s) of the theatre as they transition ownership. Every patron counts in a world where the current generation is growing up watching cinema on their phones. Keeping the theatre prices affordable (ie: cheap) and the films varied (ie: more than one person making the picks) is the recipe for QT to make a decent return on his investment. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail and this can all be sorted out. Good luck!

I am so sorry to hear about this Julie. That the new management team at the New Beverly doesn’t respect you in the way they should is both ridiculous and insulting. Those who know you best know you deserve a lot better.

I don’t really understand the problem. They don’t want you posting about the company on your personal social media accounts? That’s standard. When someone with a name like Quentin is attached, it’s understandable that they want to protect the information coming from the inside, probably as part of a bigger PR and marketing plan. And security cameras? I’d guess they just need them for liability purposes. I sincerely doubt your day-to-day activities were going to be monitored. So don’t steal and you’re fine. I don’t mean any of this in a snarky way, I am sorry you lost your job and that this personally important chapter of your life has come to a close, but it sounds like you may have overreacted and sealed your fate. However, on a brighter note, I started watching your documentary and it’s really good! So onwards!

……Personality of a ripe onion. Julia has a god complex and it seems it wasn’t getting past Quentin’s assistant. Everytime there was a guest speaker at the cinema, THERE was Julia acting as if she were the secret service pushing everyone around. Love what I am hearing, Good job Quentin.

Julia – I do feel sorry for you and please don’t take this the wrong way.. but it’s very clear why you were demoted. You are a nuisance. You refused to sign a confidentiality agreement that was obviously important to them. If you don’t understand the reasons why they maybe wanted to keep some things under wraps from the public during the revamp and can’t understand business, then perhaps you are not management material. As much as everyone loves the arts, there is a business aspect to it. And again – no offense.. but if you are 35 years old and still live on food stamps then you are clearly not capable of running a theater. You are an able bodied worker who has CHOSEN to live off the government for your own pleasure of having a low paying job at a theater. Taxes will be taken out of my paycheck so you can keep serving popcorn and living it up. I’m sorry but you need a reality check. I for one, am excited to go to the theater and see the improvements the new management team has made.

“You’re going to turn this place into a fucking multiplex, and it’s a goddam drag.”

Sorry but the New Bev has pretty much been a multiplex for the past few years – it’s the reason myself and many others have stopped going. How many times can you show SCOTT PILGRIM and CABIN IN THE WOODS a month?

I recently learned about the theatre and wanted to visit, but came across many problems with trying to find out any info. Fuck this new place. I wanted to visit the old place because it sounded WONDERFUL. I hope they change this around to something positive. Quentin will see this. You and I both know this will make its way to him.

And Fuck personal assistants, publicists, and shitty bosses. They are all a bunch of CUNTS!

NOW – shes going to EVERY MEDIA OUTLET available on the internet to try and
scoff every last scrap of attention WHILE breaching her contract and doing exactly what she was told not to do. Credibility is everything. You’ve shown your true colors AND the reason for your termination. You’re belligerent, crass and shine an un-healthy appearance to those who enter the theater . SEE YA – dont let the door hit ya on the way out….

Sorry for the few nasty idiots attacking you, but that’s the Internet: haven to cowards and fools. Getting a documentary made is a Herculean task. If you can do that, you can do just about anything. Thanks for being one of the good guys!

I’m so sorry, Julia. Since moving to LA in 2011, the New Beverly has been my favorite place, and I always looked forward to seeing you, Michael, and Brian. Thanks so much for being a friendly face the past three years I’ve been going there, and I’m going to watch your documentary (which I was so excited about when you were shooting it) later this week if it’s still available since I’m on limited Internet right now. I wish you all the luck in your future endeavors and know you will be missed.

Yeah, Real cowards and fools. Get the food truck and the goodwill clothing bin for this one.
Shes a coward for not signing the agreement and throwing her own damn job away AND shes a fool for hitting the internet, pissing off her ex-employers even further and cementing any possibility of a future in the related industry.

Sorry about this, Julia. Fuck the haters and naysayers. You are awesome, and strong enough to overcome anything. This is only a temporary setback. Your documentary is extraordinary and I really hope you add a Paypal button to your site, so fans and friendlies can give back to such a warm soul. All the best.

Why no mention of Michael Torgan? When you threw in with Tarantino to steal the theater from the Torgan family you might as well have spit on Sherman’s grave. That goes for everyone else involved with the looting of the New Beverly Cinema. http://youtu.be/8x525Tk7KpI

I suspect you were angry about the cameras because you could no longer post things on facebook while you were at work, they’d see you. As far as refusing to keep you as a manager and your refusing to sign an NDA? Are you out of your mind? You obviously have issues with your self worth because you need to post your entire work and life to social medial all day and night, this new company which Tarantino has built is trying to do what they see best, you are in no position to challenge them, it is theirs, if they don’t want any social media, so beit, it’s not your position to say. You blew off a 50K job because of social media, you are an idiot, nobody cares, you aren’t important and you definitely are not irreplaceable. I’m sure whoever they hired will do a better job than you and they won’t be online telling the world about all the drama and gossip you have become so fond of. Get a life, see how your internet addiction has ruined you?? More is coming if this last round is an indication.

thanks for the great film…the new bev circa spring 2007 is without a doubt my favorite time / place of all time…i also remember a particularly great warriors / streets of rage double feature where the warriors had spanish subtitles?!?!…also, that was my girlfriend hiding under the seats during that double feature of after hours and something wild: the tension was too much for her…

While I commend standing up to the crass behavior that seems to be transforming the funky, gritty, and/or home-y atmosphere of New Beverly Cinema into something far more multiplex-y, you didn’t seem to have the same concerns when you took the gig; nor did you–and this is important–seem willing to be “uncensored” when Michael Torgan was being forced out (which allowed you the position of general manager).

Why didn’t you bravely speak out then? Why is it that when something very similar happened to you, you had to make a stand? Where was this bold, uncompromising and protective vision of the New Beverly when this happened to someone else?

Sure, it’s fine to go out swinging if that is your wish; that said, it would feel far less self-important if you had had the same willingness to protect the theater (and the jobs of others) back when you stood to gain from the loss.

It’s amazing the amount of right wing comments you have engendered. They hate you because you are ambivalent about money. And if there is anything LA hates is a lack of respect for money. That’s why most people come here. It’s the easiest place to sell out. You obviously flirted with it and it came back to bite you. Truly it’s Michael that is the real victim but that doesn’t mean you are not a real whistleblower. Who are these pigs who write such mean shit, who so hate poor people. I guarantee you their “tax returns” are paying for nothing in the government. They are fantasizing that one day they are going to be making big money and going to be “exploited”. Good luck. It’s only with the grace of god they don’t wind up your lives in a homeless shelter.

The real point of all this is ‘don’t judge a book by it’s cover” As anybody will tell you who has meet a certain kind of egotistical successful talent, it has nothing to do with character. The buck always stops at the top, kiddies.

You’re out of a job, near poverty, and you release the one thing that could help you generate some revenue (regardless of how small it might be) to the world for FREE without even asking for donations and support.

Hey Big Lew –
Wasn’t even a thread about Right wing, left wing, but from where I stand, you a leftist shmuck sign carrying sympathizer. Miss the exit to ferguson as well? Surprised you’re not flying out their to wave your flag and meddle into business like the idiot savant you appear to be.
Nothing worse than a soup kitchen liberal that’s broke, on the outs and has an EBT mentality to boot. That’s you lew.

Julia, I’ve been through similar situations and I can tell you that I have never regretted refusing to be spied on or censored. Sometimes being fired, whether it’s being fired outright or by gutless constructive dismissal, is the greatest of (backhanded) compliments. As chaotic as these events must be for you, I hope that putting your film out into the world opens new opportunities for you where you can work with people who deserve your trust and who appreciate and reward your contributions. Very best wishes for your well being and success, Shaula

I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that as a frequent customer, but still an outsider, it’s extremely frustrating to see all of this happening.

I was there on the re-opening night, and I was taken aback by the “new” person helping out at the concession stand. She was rude, cold, and quite frankly did not fit in whatsoever. I didn’t think much of it as I figured she was just volunteering due to the size of the crowd. When she walked into the auditorium and introduced herself and the movie several minutes later, my jaw dropped. The Torgan situation aside, that’s when I realized that the new regime was totally out of step with reality and didn’t give a fuck about the existing fans of the theater. She is a detriment to the theater and Tarantino would be wise to keep her locked away.

Julia, I wish you had stayed to navigate these murky waters a little bit longer, but you know the situation better than anyone so I can’t help but respect your decision and thank you for shedding light on what’s really happening behind the scenes. It’s very sad for those of us who actually care about the theater and realize. It means a lot to many people, not just one egomaniac and his little Igor.

where’s the A-hole who wrote back to me and won’t even give a name. And do bring up Ferguson, Son, from this idiot savant (I don’t think you even know what that means. It’s a compliment. Ever read Dostoevsky?) you got a serious problem with skin pigmentation. Didn’t you see Quentin’s last movie? Maybe you were at some “meetings”. You belong down south friend. You won’t find any of thems people down there bothering you.

I’m right here Lew – never went anywhere. My point wasn’t racial, but slandering YOU for being a weak link in society. A true sympathizing bleeding heart liberal loser. No doubt a broke joke working at the local tasty freeze and whining about rich people. THIS is what your initial post dictates. AND to bring up left wing rhetoric slandering right etc…..is pathetic. Go Re-Read your post and try and stay on topic if you are able to keep up. You and your remedial self . . . . .

Julia, just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your docu, and despite the fact that I didn’t spend much time at the New Beverly, it was a blast to see you and all the others so devoted to repertory movie houses. I grew up in Berkeley and went to the UC Theatre (2 movies a day, 730 diff. movies a year) all the time, and while it didn’t have the same congenial vibe as the New Bev, it did the revival thing like a champ. Of course, it’s been closed for years, but I hope your message in the film to keep our country’s rep theaters going (in 35MM!) is heard, and people get out of the house and watch films the way they were meant to be seen. Best of luck to you, and thank you for sharing your film and your story.

You aren’t keeping a theater alive, you’re keeping a feeling alive. We used to have a theater in Culver City just like it. You could see the incoming film CANISTERS sitting on the floor in the hallway as you walked into your theater. You bought your tickets from the one guy who also sold the terrible popcorn. The seats were crap, the screen were burned out. But it felt special. And now it’s an under-construction work/live loft space. And I miss it. And I miss the real people in it. You know what… it doesn’t matter how you feel about cinema, 35MM, Quentin or Hollywood. The world needs more people who are passionate. About anything. I applaud your dedication and I hope you don’t feel defeated. You have already done something to keep “real” alive.

Julia, as the film title says Don’t Look Back. You have another career if you want it. You are a talented filmmaker. Your film is really wellmade. No shit. Go make another one or get a job with one of the many filmmakers you have met.

As for the real hero of the piece, it is Michael. Sad to say a tragic hero.

As for my anonymous friend, it feels to me like you are wearing a white hood. If you think what you are saying is not political, where can you possibly be coming from spewing such hatred to people you don’t know anything about.Their lives, their circumstances. You took that course at Michelle Bachman University I know it you rascal. Yeah she is political and so are you. No blood. No soul. You disparage me as a worker and if I was what would be wrong that. anyway? That I’m not doesn’t make me any better than them. But you are obviously. I’m breaking up with you. I wish you well with your imaginary millions. I mean that.

P>S> I’ll be disappointed if you don’t call me fuckface one time. I know it’s in your vocabulary. Show me the love. And for what it’s worth, I’m apolitical. A plague on both their houses. I’m worse than political. I’m an atheist with humanist tendencies. You should be able to rip that to pieces . And sleep well tonight. Call it a gift. Because I get paid a lot of money to write this many words. And I gave them to you for free. I guess I really am a fool.

Yeah “Fuckface” you get paid LOTS for your grammar I’m sure. Pathetic wannabe. I’ve MET this broad Julia, Have you? She;’s not a “stranger” to me. She deserves every bit of the lash she’s getting. I was a patron of the New Beverly for years and fell victim to her cocky pretentious attitude many times.

The industry is going to oust this chick because of her ridiculous notion of her self worth to the New Beverly. She’ll be busing tables at the restaurant next door for the next decade.

As for politics? Your on par with a Paramecium or some other single celled liberal loser.
I have no doubt you have the backbone of one as well. “BIG” Lew can only mean massive in equating stupidity to your goofy self.

I’m not really sure what the problem here is…you didn’t want to work somewhere where you had to sign an NDA and have cameras installed (pretty standard stuff, especially for a place with an owner in the public eye) so you complained about the cameras and refused to sign the NDA until it became clear to new management you shouldn’t be there. Maybe you’ll be happier, maybe you won’t but there’s no scandal here, just a clash in ideals and, unfortunately for you, you don’t own the place, he does. End of (non) story.

Haha, what? Is this a joke? So it’s really, clearly obvious what’s happening here. You are 35 and worked as a ticket taker. For years. Then suddenly you were promoted to management and shocker, weren’t right for the job. Why? Because management requires being able to make decisions and is a hell of a lot harder than taking tickets. This assistant has probably worked hard – HARD, not as a ticket taker – for years and probably couldn’t believe all of the non-important questions you were wasting her time with. Why sign an NDA? What? Any job that requires a general level of intelligence will ask you to sign an NDA. People have to protect themselves. Why are there cameras? Because Tarantino has to be careful. Anyone could take advantage of his public celebrity position. A worker could falsely accuse him of something, a patron could do the same, etc. and it could ruin his name that’s he worked so hard for. That’s professionalism and something people of that caliber have to deal with. I’m glad you have been sheltered from situations like that and don’t have to worry about constantly covering your ass, but that is a very real problem that high-profile talent deals with.

Bottom line, don’t be a ticket taker at 35 and expect to have a skill set or general world knowledge to keep a manager’s position.

I suspect that the cameras were installed to lower the insurance premiums on the theater. Signing an NDA when working for a celebrity is more than standard. The way you’ve turned this into a publicity stunt makes it clear why a strict social media policy might be instituted. Tarantino is off shooting his new movie, and you’re upset he won’t return your calls? Am I right to understand you were manager there for TWO WEEKS? And this is being written about in the Hollywood Reporter? And wait, did you shoot a documentary on video and actually have a 35mm print struck? This is all kinds of crazy.

Those of you who insist that every business in the world requires NDAs and has cameras installed in every office need to get out of the corporate world a little more often. It’s simply not true. And given Julia’s following on social media — promoting the New Bev as well as her documentary — it was entirely reasonable to balk at signing an NDA that basically required that she never speak of the theater to anyone, ever. There would have been a way to amend or put some strikeouts in the NDA to make it reasonable, but it doesn’t sound like there was a way to even have a conversation about this, or anything else. I don’t know Julia, and I don’t know if she handled everything as well as she could have or not, but the objections being raised here to legitimate issues any smart employee would have are ridiculous.

I like what I’ve seen of the film so far, Julia, as do others on this board. You now also have a more interesting ending to the film, although it is not the one you wanted, but it gave the doc a new third act. If you are willing to incorporate all of it, it could be dynamite. As the saying goes, when life gives you lemons…

best of luck to you Julia. You made a solid movie, so don’t give up. Never give up. If the commenters knew the difference it is to shoot a movie on film versus on digital, they’d not make these comments. It’s a commitment. You obviously have a lot of passion for it.

goddammit, that was beautifully written. woeful situation and sad for the place’s future, but glad you’re up and fighting instead of hanging your head low and sulking. hats off to you, Director. you’ve been freed from your position because bigger and better things await. just keep your eyes open for those opportunities.

What happened at the New Beverly Cinema (and possibly continues to happen) was not good.

Quentin seizing control of the theatre from Michael Torgan was, quite simply, an act of fascism. Angered by the installation of a DCP projector, Quentin drove out his building’s tenant and, for all intents and purposes, terminated the tenant’s business. That’s the unvarnished truth (tiptoe around it all you like).

Was it fair? No, not at all. Was it legal? Sadly, most likely, yes.

Were the dismissals of Michael and the New Beverly staff fair, reasonable or necessary? No. I recently attended a screening of The Big Boss at the QT New Beverly and all of the changes and upgrades, all of them, could have been made with the Torgan team still in place. That is, if Quentin had been inclined to make that scenario work. He wasn’t and he didn’t.

Perhaps Julia was treated unfairly – I’m saddened that she’s no longer at the New Beverly – but her blog page is laden with more than a little naiveté and self-interest. Nowhere does she express any empathy or sympathy for Michael or her co-workers, just her enthusiasm over working with her hero (has our definition of hero become so corrupted that Quentin Tarantino now qualifies for such status?).

Was Julia really hand-picked by Quentin to run his movie theater? No, probably not. Quentin was doing what any even marginally prudent businessman does when he takes over a business he knows little about: keeping the existing staff that is willing to stay, at least initially, in place. It’s difficult to run a business if you immediately sack the entire staff.

Nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) are de rigueur when working with celebrities. Being asked to sign one is not an act of evil; it’s an act of protection for the celebrity (helping to prevent situations like employees running to The National Enquirer with details of the celebrity’s life). Cameras in places like the box office, concession counter, manager’s office and projection booth? Again, not evil. Perhaps disconcerting, but not evil. The box office, concession counter and manager’s office are all places where receipts and cash are handled – and theft is possible. Film prints are generally, when not in exhibition, stored in the projection booth. Numerous films have been pirated in projection booths around the world.

I’m not suggesting this type of behavior ever took place at the New Beverly, but perhaps Julia should have stepped back and considered the possible justifications for the changes.

The takeover – not transition – of a business almost never happens without related chaos. Employees who want to survive quickly learn to keep their heads down, survey the lay of the land, and wait to see what comes next. Julia does not appear to have done this. Her “hero,” while arguably a talented filmmaker, is most likely a dilettante when it comes to running a business. It’s quite possible QT dumped his New Beverly takeover on his staff and told them to handle it. His people may not possess the skill set or desire to operate a repertory cinema. This might have been an opportunity for Julia to woman up, ignore the lack of e-mail correspondence, tolerate the initial turbulence and go about her job as best she could. People make business decisions every day with less than perfect information. While it’s never a pleasant situation, there are creative ways to work around less than co-operative people. And if those methods don’t work and the situation doesn’t change, one has to move on.

Julia quit. She moved on. But not before making a ridiculous statement about QT turning the New Beverly into a multiplex. The New Beverly Cinema was never going to be the same under Quentin as it was under the Torgan family – such an expectation is silly – but it will almost certainly never be a multiplex. One is forced to consider that perhaps the Tarantino people were right – Julia was not management material.

I wish Michael, Julia and the other former staff from the New Beverly Cinema the best. They are special people who breathed a soul into the New Beverly. I hope the future holds nothing but good for them.

Julia did not “support that struggling mom and pop theater near you.” She conspired with Tarantino to destroy one. She got what she deserved. We’ll see who falls next for never was a story of more woe than this of the New Beverly Cinema. Thanks for “saving the theater” Quentin.

I’ve been through a very similar situation and I feel for you. All I can say is I feel so much better after letting go of my need for control of that thing I loved. I learned a LOT from being fired from a manager position of a single screen independent art house. I sat in front of the tv depressed for weeks. I started watching the Dog Whisperer and became a little obsessed with the whole concept of being calm and assertive and leading with energy. Now I’m a dog trainer that owns a dog walking business and I’m a student ambassador for Cesar Millan’s dog psychology workshops. It’s a dream come true. Being fired from that job was THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME!

While yes, some people are attempting to be nasty or political on here, and while yes, Julia has long been a champion of the the New Beverly Cinema…

I do think some of the animus towards you is fairly justified. Not the disgusting name-calling and such; rather, many are making the valid point that you have crafted a very self-pitying blog post about being forced out of a business you begged your way into, but there was no public declaration of pity and support for the man and family who were ousted from the family business of the New Beverly Cinema earlier this year.

For someone who is ardently declaring that she will not be censored or silenced, strangely, mum was the word when the supposed tragedy that befell you also occurred to Michael Torgan. Further, for someone who is making public declarations and hashtaging that you will not be censored, I’ve noticed you’ve not responded to similar accusations here or elsewhere.

Let’s be honest–it’s quite possible that you were capable of seeing past Michael getting shafted out of his business because your eyes were on the Prize: managing the New Beverly. Given the examples of ego seen elsewhere (I noted that in the documentary about the New Beverly, you needed to make yourself a subject), it seems fairly possible that you didn’t care when this happened to someone else who has poured far more of his heart, soul, and blood into the New Bev; but when it came time for the hammer to inevitably fall on you (and, let’s be frank, as often and long as you’ve been at the New Bev, you couldn’t figure out what managerial actions you should be taking? You don’t know the day-to-day operations aside from Twitter and Instagram updates and impatiently asking people in line to move out of the way?), you freaked and made a public martyr of yourself.

I think it is telling that you don’t make mention of Michael at all; you simply note how excited you were to be at Quentin’s and handed over the theater.

As big a person as you are, if you truly wanted to acquit yourself and come off as the bigger person, you’d publicly apologize for being on the wrong side when Michael lost the theater and admit that you got what you deserved.

Julia, you rock. I can’t wait to meet you and want to curate a night in NYC around you, your film, this. Please, find me, be in touch. Reaching out to Patton, with whom I made a film to track you down too. Sorry about how gutted you felt but happy to see your film, you did a great job and this is going to change things… it will. I’m not sure how, but it will. X

Julia, you also seem very comfortable speaking for a dead man, who also happened to be an owner/employee:

“Shortly after I started, Sherman asked why he hadn’t hired me five years ago. He was astounded and amused by my youthful enthusiasm for the theater, which brimmed over in bucketfuls. He told me I breathed new life into the stagnant theater.”

It seems the only person you won’t speak about is the one person whose acknowledgement would make you look bad, seeing as how–going by the above post, and your absence on the final night of the Torgan regime–you were fine taking his job. You apparently went along with allowing yourself to be censored on social media, you went along with Michael getting ousted (ousted in a way that, when it happened to you, caused you to make a public declaration of betrayal), and you went along with the changes at the New Beverly, as long as you were given the position of co-general manager. It seems you didn’t balk and bail until you had the un-earned position taken from you. Only *THEN* did you seem to deem the activities at the New Bev as a tragedy.

I guess I just don’t understand why it’s ok to talk about the goings-on at the New Bevery post-Torgan (especially when that’s the incarnation that values secrecy, given the requests for Non-Disclosure Agreements), and yet you will Self-Censor and not speak about Michael. You’ll discuss the ideas, attitudes, and employment of Sherman Torgan, Quentin Tarantino, Julie McLean, Brian Quinn, and Jeff Nowicki. But you claim to refuse to speak about other employees after a host of voices ask why you were ok with doing to Michael what you very loudly uncool with being done to yourself. It only serves to make you appear self-pitying, disloyal, and cruel.

As a long time New Beverly fan and frequent attendee beginning in the 90ts, I’ve been deeply troubled that it appears that the Torgan family have been muscled out by the person who for years I’ve thought of as a hero for being so supportive to them. I’ve not contacted Michael yet, as I’m sure he’s being deluged with phone calls and emails and such, and I want to wait a respectful length of time before I do so. When I do contact him, it will be to thank him and his wonderful father (R.I.P.) for the years and years of fabulous film going experiences I so enjoyed at their theatre. I’ve always enjoyed encountering you, after you came to work there in the box office, and as a former box office girl myself at numerous clubs in and about Los Angeles, always found you to be a warm and welcoming presence there. That being said, I’ve been very bothered and disappointed in you that you stayed on after Michael was apparently ousted, and also stunned by your utter silence on the matter. How exactly is it ethical to finally be hired by Sherman Torgan, be allowed to continue on at the theatre with his son Michael after his untimely passing, and then not leave when the Torgans were clearly not going to be part of the picture there any more there? I’m totally with Sinaphile and Lionel Frankenstein, and thank them for their posts – they’ve said what many of us have been wondering since all of this happened. That being said, I look forwards to watching your film, and am grateful and pleased that you made it – maybe *that* was the true reason you were meant to be at the New Beverly Cinema, if one believes in fate. Now both people who were long time regulars like me, and others who never had the chance to go while it was the wonderful place it once was, can see it and it’s been immortalized for all time on film – I do thank you for that. I only wish you had left when Michael did – that would have been the right thing to do. Thank you Michael and Sherman – so very much love and appreciation to both of you from the bottom of my heart.

Julia, I have been a loyal customer of this wonderful establishment since you had the Grindhouse festival in ’07. I, like you, could live in a movie theatre like the Beverly. I am really sorry things turned out the way they did. I love Tarantino of course, and I feel bad that some type of positive resolution could not be reached. I remember you always being cool and friendly the times I went. Good luck and the very very best.

If you have never been to the Beverly cinema, then your opinion doesn’t matter when I state that this slothful ticket taker had an aura about her that she was above the law. Several of my friends even have neglected to be patrons for the sole reason that this childish UN-professional girl actually went out of her way to proclaim her self importance.

Your actions in and around your sob story leads any credible mind to believe that what I am stating is true and the fact that you lost your job was within your own merit-less ego.

Thank you for saving the New Beverly QT – will be visiting shortly and look forward to the new mgmt progress. Out with the fat . . . . .errrr, old . . . . . and in with the new.

With all due respect to the Torgan regime and the fact that they kept it running as long as they have, Tarantino specifically supported the New Bev (it seems) ONLY if they showed 35mm film print. And ONLY film print. It appears that Michael had not consulted of his plans to introduce DCP along side film print. And his defense of the economics of it. Because of my own love for film, I can see how QT would be upset. In defense of Julia’s position towards Michael, I’d have seen him as a sell-out traitor as well. But that’s just the sentimental side of me.

One respect in which 35 mm film remains superior to digital media is that people who’re allergic to joy can’t append anally retentive comments to every single frame. Julia, nothing is more precious than your enthusiasm, which no one owns. Better to have loved and lost.

Blecch. Endlessly self-promoting yourself via this blog and Twitter as a New Bev employee who helped kick out Michael. You’re a real hero speaking truth to power, Julia. A real hero would have stood up to Tarantino and Co. rather than being an adulatory fangirl desperate to move up the ladder and feel important; a really decent person would treat all New Bev patrons the same and with respect, not just those of us who may be public figures or have the power to make you feel special with our attention.

Lionel Frankenstein for President – I bow down to you, sir! Bless you for speaking the truth here. Sherman Torgan was a man of principles and ethics and is dearly missed – I think he would indeed be disgusted by Julia’s latest actions and her apparent total lack of respect for his son. Oh, and to those here who don’t know, the New Beverly Cinema had been showing films on dcp for some time, *only* and *only* when a 35 mm print was not available, so this was nothing new and QT didn’t seem to object to it, or if he did, he didn’t say anything. Michael purchased the dcp projector out of his own life savings, because in the long run it would save the New Beverly a great deal of money over the long run, as opposed to renting one from time to time. He *never* planned to change over to that format as opposed to 35 mm, which he much prefers – and, and this is an important point many here seem to be missing, as *sole owner* of the New Beverly Cinema (the business itself, as opposed to the *theatre*, which QT owns – it’s two totally separate things) he did *not* need to ask QT’s permission to purchase it and install it. As to flinging around terms like “sell-out traitor” @Chief35mmBear, I feel your passion and all that, but honestly, the sell-out traitor here is anyone who was hired by the Torgan family, worked for them, and then stayed behind when they were thrown out of a family business that they had built and nutured with their heart and soul for THIRTY-SIX years. If the shoe fits, Julia.

Thank you Lionel Frankenstein for speaking the truth! You have my vote for president as well. I have friends that are pathetic name dropping fanboys – so i can definitely sniff one out. Julia is at the top of the ladder when it comes to this.

Will somebody please step up to the plate here and answer this — —

— — Did this broad “REALLY” digitally shoot a documentary and then ridiculously transfer it to 35MM . . . . because 35MM is “cool”?

Was hoping sanity and maturity would prevail, but apparently a bunch of fucking 4 year olds pirated their mommy’s ipads to turn a person’s place of expression into their self-righteous soapboxes. Name-calling and morals-bashing aside, Pseudo-cinephiles, where was YOUR fucking “outrage” when the Torgan family was ousted? I don’t see any links to a petition demanding reparations or apology to Michael; no picket lines near the corner of Beverly and Formosa; no donation site set up in his name. It’s pathetic to all jump on the “she should speak up for everyone who ever set foot in that place” bandwagon, and sit back smirking, hoping Julia acknowledges your cretinous existence by engaging. Because we all know you fucktards would NEVER say shit like this to Julia’s face in real life; you must feel so smugly safe trash-talking her on your little screens. Made your fucking sorry lives, didn’t it?
Point is, Julia made a decision (and an awesome documentary) that you may not agree with, but your freedom of speech doesn’t warrant you bitching all over her blog comments because you never accomplished anything in life.

@Goodfer Ju (Again) I agree that some of the comments on here from posters are snarky, rude, and off topic – but as a long time New Beverly Cinema supporter of over 20 years I feel I have the right to ask Julia where was/is her support for Michael Torgan? And you’re quite wrong, I would ask her exactly that if I were able to, face to face. Since I’m not able to, do not use Twitter, and have had no avenue through which to ask that important question, I did it here. I’ve done a great deal with my life so far, and it’s assuming a great deal on your part to presume otherwise – let’s keep the focus where it belongs, shall we? Many of us who considered ourselves part of the extended New Beverly Cinema family, and who have supported it throughout the years, have been left with a very bitter after taste in the wake of the change-over in ownership. Personally, I’ve felt that I can’t really go back or support this weird change in management unless Michael Torgan is part of it and *that* is how I chose to show my support. Online petitions, picketing by the theatres and so on, would be wasted efforts – your suggestions regarding ways to speak up and out are not realistic, and the one about setting up a donation site in Michael’s name is actually insulting – if you knew/know him you’d certainly understand he would hate such a thing. No, *none* of this “makes my day” – it’s all very sad and the very antithesis of what the New Beverly Cinema stood for. It was once a wonderful place to go – my home away from home, truly – I’m very grateful I was part of it and got to experience it – I have so many wonderful memories, and I will always treasure those. I’m also hopeful that at some point in the not so distant future, Julia will explain her silence about why she chose to stay on with the new management team, and be utterly silent about the Torgans, who after all, were the family who hired her in the first place. Of *course*, I have an opinion on all of this – and the right to express it here – I supported the theatre under the Torgans for over two decades, and it was my favorite place in L.A. to spend my evenings – all of us who were part of that are left with a lot of questions about what is happening with the theatre now and it’s hard to feel much sympathy for anyone who stayed behind once Michael was out. If there is more to the story, perhaps one day we will learn it – but at the moment, it just doesn’t look all that promising.

@Goodfer Ju (Again) This; ‘It’s pathetic to all jump on the “she should speak up for everyone who ever set foot in that place” bandwagon’ leads me to believe you’ve never been to the New Beverly Cinema, nor do you know any of the principles involved. Michael Torgan was the *owner*, not an employee – he took over the business when his father Sherman passed away very suddenly in 2006. It was a brave thing to do and I think he did it very well – it’s lovely when a business can stay in the same family for decades, even though the circumstances of that happening were very sad indeed. It’s the fact that the Torgans appear to have had that business wrenched away from them that isn’t setting well with so many of the long time New Beverly devotees.

Julia is the one that called all this attention to herself, so fuck off. I’d say it right to her face ( as i have in the past at the cinema) and i would say it to yours. Hiding behind the keyboard? You’re not doing the same thing with your stupid user name at that?

Makes me believe AS WELL you’ve never been to the theater. Just some wannabe “cinephile” from across the country with a voice…….and his “Dads” ipad.

Don’t care about the current owner of the cinema or the politics. I am here for the sole reason of laughing at that fat cow and enjoying the karma of her position.

I always hated the broad and as i stated before shes and egotistical, self serving pretentious asshole who kept me from going to the cinema because of her shitty attitude throughout the years after the take over.

THAT’S why I am on here. To add my voice to the mix and rub it in how glad I am.

***”Where was YOUR fucking “outrage” when the Torgan family was ousted?”

I was extraordinarily outraged, and canceled a flight to the east coast when I learned that the Torgan-led New Beverly was ending the same day, and instead went to the theater to pay my respects, find out what I could from Michael, and say goodbye to a theater that had felt like home for so many years.

***” It’s pathetic to all jump on the “she should speak up for everyone who ever set foot in that place” bandwagon.”

I didn’t ask her to say anything about everyone else at New Bev; rather, I noted it was interesting that she refused to say anything about the ousting of Michael Torgan, since she was kicked out in the same manner and acted as if it were a tragedy, but she was fine ousting him the same way in order to take his job. AND THEN she stated she refused to speak about any other New Bev employes (MIchael), despite clearly discussing several in this post.

***”…hoping Julia acknowledges your cretinous existence by engaging.”

Actually, Julia has acknowledged my existence several, several times at the theater over the years, while at the same time treating all but a few of the just-as-important but less well-known patrons with what always appeared to be a mix of irritation and mild disdain.

***”Point is, Julia made a decision (and an awesome documentary) that you may not agree with, but your freedom of speech doesn’t warrant you bitching all over her blog comments because you never accomplished anything in life.”

Actually, it does warrant that. And Goodfer, if we’re gonna go down the “blog commenters have never accomplished anything in life” route, well, I could be petty and that *my* films have screened at the New Bev. As it stands, pretty sure Julia cannot say the same. So can I have permission to disagree with your pal now?

@Mothgirl: I just listened to a podcast on KCRW’s The Treatment with Tarantino. The idea, and I’m sure he’s conveyed, is that he NEVER wanted digital to touch that theater, no matter what. I think it was inferred that Torgan may’ve not have wanted to take money from one hand (from Tarantino) and do what he likes in the other. Yes, he could’ve showed both and raked a small profit, but the point…as I would hope with all 35mm film print purist is that we’re trying to save the presentation of film print and not offer a subpar (what amounts to a DVD screening) that you can do at home. It’s a shame that most movies (which btw I’ve been involved in the biggest blockbusters shot on film) that it has to be projected digitally. IT’S GOD AWFUL. Washed out and bland. This is NOT the side by side exhibition standards that would kill DCP’s claim. Yes, you sometimes get chatter, but you lose a TON of color and contrast and texture in DCP. Digital theaters aren’t equipped or calibrated properly. That’s a FACT. To the topic at hand, anyone who dealt with film print as Julia most likely took the side of Tarantino for that fact. QT leveraged and flexed his influence to preserve film presentation even if it meant tossing out the turncoat (excuse the harsh term). Julia seems to be on that side of the right. Which I support. I can only believe it was a personality issue or the NDA agreement moral high ground. AT the New Bev, there shouldn’t be another option but film. Michael Torgan may not have needed to consult QT, but it sure SEEMED like it would’ve been a slap to Sherman (though I don’t know their convos behind closed doors).

Well, this is all strange. I haven’t been there since the change of management. I’ve been going since 97 and it’s one of my favorites. It does seem odd that there’s no mention of Torgan in this rant. You’ve been on food stamps? Then you stay on after Torgan is muscled out but turn down $50,000 a year over a NDA? I sign them all the time when working in the industry, it’s not a big deal. Is it censorship? Sure, I guess, but it’s a good job and an opportunity to have some impact on the theater through these growing pains. Tarantino’s lack of involvement in this documentary makes me wonder if there’s some bad blood. Why on earth wouldn’t be take part in a documentary about the theater be helped save from destruction. Same with Eli Roth, no interview? Seems fishy. I never found Julia unpleasant, and it was nice to see her and everyone else there every time I went. But I will still go because even though it seems like the old beverly is now gone, it’s still bound to be a great place to see old double features and hey, without Quenton, this would have been a supercuts 2 years ago right?

Wow, get a grip, lady. The skills required to work at the New Bev, as with any other theater, are three: that you can make popcorn without hurting anyone, make correct change most of the time, and be pleasant to all the customers. Looks like, with eight years of practice, you were able to get two out of three of these under control. You were doing EXACTLY the same job as tens of thousands of similarly unskilled sixteen year old twerps do across the country at thousands of other theaters, you just happened to be doing it at a theater that was cool. Do you not get that?

Your overwhelming sense of entitlement, and of your own importance, is awe-inspiring. Quentin Tarantino is supposed to drop everything and take a call from the girl who restocks the Junior Mints? Are you fucking kidding me? The New Beverly wasn’t great because of you, and didn’t make you important, get it? You sold tickets. I could train a chimp to do that job, apparently more pleasantly. The fact that you occasionally rubbed shoulders with greatness wasn’t because you were YOU, nor were you “personally hand-picked by Quentin Tarantino to run his movie theater in Hollywood,” any more than I hand-pick the guy who changes my oil when I go into Jiffy Lube. It was BECAUSE YOU WERE ALREADY THERE.

You don’t get to keep a job because you love it. You get to keep a job because you’re good at it, and don’t make yourself a pain in the ass when there are a million sixteen year olds across the country who could do the same job without alienating customers and without taking it personally that there are cameras in the WORKPLACE. Not your second home. Not your community. The workplace. “Although I was now a manager in title, I was never given any job parameters or instructions”? If you need instructions after observing other managers do the job for 8 years, you shouldn’t be in the job. It’s not like managing a theater is rocket science.

“She told me I was making it about myself, like I made everything about myself”? Sounds like she’s pretty much got your number.

There is a lot of the truth in these comments, and also some unfortunate name calling and things that I would expect from a grade school playground. It’s sad that almost everyone is hiding behind a screenname. If you have something to say, why not just say it and identify yourself? What are you afraid of?

My introduction to Julia was after meeting Phil at the New Beverly Cinema in 2009. I started arranging for actors and filmmakers to appear there for Q&A screenings and either Phil or Julia would moderate. Almost from the very beginning, Julia was very passive aggressive to me, even though I brought some great guests that she got to meet and do Q&A’s with including Jeffrey Jones, Edie McClurg and Cindy Pickett for a John Hughes tribute, Lea Thompson for RED DAWN, and Bill Paxton for NEAR DARK. Everyone else at the New Bev was grateful for my help and support of the theater. She was the only one who ever made me uncomfortable there.

When QT recently took over, I was devastated to hear that Michael Torgan was essentially being thrown out of his family’s 36 year business. He has been especially kind to me over the years during some very tough personal times and has allowed me to host many special events there. If it were up to me, Michael’s staff would have left in solidarity. That’s a nice principle to hold. But the reality is that people have to make a living and most are too afraid to take a stand on principles when it comes to their job. Since my only issues there had been with Julia, I was not happy to hear that she was now a manager. And as I talked to many of my friends who were New Bev regulars, I learned I was not the only one who had issues with her. Despite her proclaimed love for and admiration of New Beverly Cinema and Sherman Torgan, I don’t think she extended that to his wonderful son, Michael. And she clearly didn’t support him through the tragedy of losing his family business. Because of all that, I was thrilled when I read her blog this week.

In some ways I can relate to the New Bev takeover, though not in as personal a way as Michael. I used to be in telemarketing and rose through the ranks to be Director of Telemarketing with three calls centers and 200 employees. When I had a situation with a manager who was insubordinate, it required me to write her up. Instead I was told by the President to “terminate her unless she puts her tail between her legs and grovels for her job”. She was a manager who was our reigning “Employee of the Year”. There was no disciplinary action at all in her file. So this was extreme and I didn’t agree. Long story short, the next day I left the company. I had a management team of six people who reported directly to me. I didn’t expect them to leave in solidarity, though one offered to. I counseled her that it was not in her best interests career wise and she stayed on. To rise through those ranks as Supervisor, Manager and ultimately Director, I had to sign an NDA and a non-compete, which meant I couldn’t work in the industry for a year after leaving there, regardless of the circumstances. Had I not signed it, I could not become a Supervisor or essentially rise in the ranks. That was a sacrifice and it was scary, but it afforded me a significant opportunity that changed my working life for the better.

Julia received this management opportunity, and despite the controversial circumstances, it sounds like she was eager to take it. But she is naïve to think that it does not come with some sacrifice. When you are management, you have to play ball with the ownership. You can’t have it both ways. While it was odd to learn that there are cameras in the New Bev, there’s nothing outrageous about it. Even if the owner wasn’t an internationally well known filmmaker, it’s a business and many, many businesses have surveillance cameras nowadays. It sounds like a smart business move to me.

This situation allowed me to watch Julia’s film, OUT OF PRINT, which I’ve heard about for a couple of years now. She lined up an impressive group of filmmakers to speak about the New Bev and about film. I question her choice of some of the “regulars” featured there because I don’t think the term applies to them, but maybe that is splitting hairs. The doc is technically well made, it moves along briskly, there are some touching things in it, especially since I know some of the people who are featured. But it’s really what I expected since the initial crowd funding campaign – there is not a Director at the wheel here who has a compelling story to tell and a plan of how to tell it. When I didn’t see a writing credit in the opening titles, that was very telling to me. The result is that this is a niche doc that New Bev regulars and perhaps avid filmgoers may enjoy, but it doesn’t rise above that. It’s really just a “best of” of what Julia was able to capture from this impressive lineup of people. With a stronger story to tell and better execution and storytelling skills, maybe this could have appealed to a much wider audience. In the end it’s just preaching to the choir, which is fine if that was the intention. But there is way too much of Julia in it, which is clearly because of her narcissism. She is not a Michael Moore or Morgan Spurlock type of personality and this doc isn’t made in that style anyway. Instead of so many interview clips with her, she may have been wiser to go voice-over, but in that case, she should have hired a voice-over talent instead of making it so much about her. She clearly thinks that she is an integral part of New Beverly Cinema and its story. And though she is part of the story of the last seven years with the moderating that she has done and the guest programmers she has worked with, at the end of the day, she is a part time employee and the integral part is the Torgan Family. And if she felt she deserved so much credit, she should have also mentioned Brian Quinn and Eric Caidin’s Grindhouse Film Festival, Phil Blankenship and his midnight screenings, Brian Collins’ Horror Movie a Day, all of whom hosted popular screening series there in recent years. The bottom line is that it is very hard to make a great documentary even if you have either an important topic or one that you are passionate about. OUT OF PRINT is not a great documentary.

I think it’s sad that Julia’s departure from the New Bev has gotten so much press attention since it’s just really not a story, certainly not an important one. But since Michael chose to stay out of the spotlight by not doing interviews or writing a blog, which comes as no surprise to those of us who know him, and since journalists today can’t be bothered to actually investigate a story and report actual facts like who has owned the business since 2007, Julia’s rant becomes news.

I wish Michael Torgan well and hope that the New Bev regulars support him in his next endeavor, whatever that may be.

To all you idiots that keep saying it was shot digitally and transferred to 35mm. It wasn’t!!!! It was shot on Panavision – yes film and a print was struck in 35mm for theatrical exhibition. Is it not clear yet that she wouldn’t shoot it digitally as it would defeat the object of doing the fucking thing. What a massive bunch of daft cunts are on this board.

Hilarious……. @ Jamey ( you Nitwit) – Time to call it a day.
Panavision is a process, its “Not film” Its actually a rental company that specializes in certain cameras & lenses set up per their parameters.

Where did you get that useful information that this was shot on “Film”, because she has a picture of herself looking through a panavision camera via the internet
(to make her look all important?)
Hell, I even got one of those, Doesn’t make me a director. . . . nor important

I used to be a semi-regular customer of the New Beverly before I left L.A. That was just over five years ago. About two weeks ago, I made my first visit back home since leaving, and attended the opening night of the Pulp Fiction 20th Anniversary screening. I had the pleasure of meeting Julia that night, and after a brief, friendly chat, she offered my fiancée and I one of her delicious homemade white chocolate chip cookies. It’s that kind of warm, personal touch that defines a local passionate community from a corporate venture. It’s become too rare in Los Angeles and that’s a huge part of why I left. I highly doubt that this Julie McLean person will be going that extra mile, and it’s a shame that the person who was willing was forced out. At least perhaps my final memory of the New Beverly will be a warm one, thanks to Julia and her dedicated service and passion. Luckily, she clearly brings that same dedication to her filmmaking, and hopefully now she’ll have the chance to move on to bigger and better things in that arena. I look forward to it.

Snake: pardon the semantics, but saying something is shot with Panavision implies film. Otherwise, most usually say Alexa, Red, 5D, GoPro etc… they could also tag it with “shot in Panavision” which would imply their anamorphic line. I’ll usually say to production “just shoot Panavision.” Which they already know to be film.

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